This is one of those times where a cover stops me in my tracks. I was intrigued by the stunning image and the summary and couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. Elisabeth Moss' blurb also piqued my interest, and I was thrilled to be approved for this title.
Mrs. March's husband is a famous writer whose latest work is being lauded as spectacular. She should be thrilled for him, but as more people comment on the similarities between the main character and Mrs. March, she becomes increasingly unnerved that she could be the muse--her husband finding inspiration for a woman who is most decidedly not Mrs. March. What follows is a crescendo of near psychosis that will leaving you questioning if everything is as it seems. I loved this book. Mrs. March gave me serious Lamb to the Slaughter vibes. Dahl's writing had an eerie, uneasy undertone. You didn't know what was going to happen, but you knew something was coming, and then BAM. I felt the same way reading Mrs. March. It's difficult to discuss this without giving spoilers, but Mrs. March is a study in character development and identity. Known only as Mrs. March, her lack of first name emphasizes her embodiment as *wife* and keeps us on the outside. We never really know her. She keeps key details hidden away while distracting the audience with meticulous descriptions of her environment, her memories, her dinner guests. It's a way to keep the reader at arm's length while forcing us to question if we can trust the information we're given. Is she really seeing these things? Has she unwittingly stumbled upon a killer? This hits the marks for PPD, but you can never really say that with confidence; if ever there was an unreliable narrator, it is Mrs. March. Just whoa. Feito's imagery and execution is superb, and I think this will translate well to the screen. I'm excited to see the cinematic interpretation, as many of Mrs. March's visuals are visceral and quietly unnerving. Overall, Mrs. March is a sharp, smart, unsettling thrill ride that will leave you breathless. For fans of quiet psychological horror, Wounds, or the ultimate unreliable narrator, Mrs. March will be the book for you. Out in August, add this to your TBRs ASAP and come back and have a chat about Mrs. March. Big thanks to LiveRight/W.W. Norton and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.
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